Lung ventilation device

Abstract

A lung ventilation device has a stem to fit in a trachea, having at least two ventilation passageways communicating with distal passageways configured to fit in the bronchi at the carina. There is a positioning balloon to engage the walls at the carina when inflated. The positioning balloon has a proximal annular portion surrounding a distal end of the stem, and a plurality of annular distal portions, each surrounding a distal passageway end. The distal balloon portions are extensions of the proximal balloon portion. There may be a frangible link between the distal passageways, to break to separate the distal passageways in situ for bronchi entry as the positioning balloon is inflated. There may be stylets extending along the stem and arranged to provide stiffness to the distal passageways during device advancement in the trachea.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A lung ventilation device for human or animal treatment, the device comprising:
 a stem configured to fit in a trachea,   said stem having at least two ventilation passageways communicating with distal passageways configured to fit in the bronchi at the carina, and   a positioning balloon configured to engage the walls at the carina when inflated,   wherein:
 the positioning balloon has a proximal annular portion surrounding a distal end of the stem, and a plurality of annular distal portions, each surrounding a distal passageway end, and 
 the distal balloon portions are extensions of the proximal balloon portion. 
   
     
     
         22 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the positioning balloon is configured to, when inflated, seal against the bronchi and the trachea. 
     
     
         23 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each distal balloon portion includes a turned-in wall which is integrated with a wall of the associated distal passageway. 
     
     
         24 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each ventilation passageway comprises a tube, and the balloon distal passageways are continuations of said ventilation passageway tubes. 
     
     
         25 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a frangible link between the distal passageways, said link being adapted to break to separate the distal passageways in situ for bronchi entry. 
     
     
         26 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a frangible link between the distal passageways, said link being adapted to break to separate the distal passageways in situ for bronchi entry and wherein said link is adapted to break as the positioning balloon is inflated. 
     
     
         27 . The ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a frangible link between the distal passageways, said link being adapted to break to separate the distal passageways in situ for bronchi entry; and wherein said link is adapted to break upon contact with the carina. 
     
     
         28 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a frangible link between the distal passageways, said link being adapted to break to separate the distal passageways in situ for bronchi entry; and wherein the frangible link is at or adjacent to the apex of an inverted V-shape formed by ends of said distal passageways. 
     
     
         29 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the device further comprises a style extending along the stem and arranged to provide stiffness to the distal passageways during device advancement in the trachea. 
     
     
         30 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the device further comprises a style extending along the stem and arranged to provide stiffness to the distal passageways during device advancement in the trachea; and wherein there is a stylet for each ventilation passageway, the distal passageways have a default splayed-out configuration, and the stylets are arranged to retain the distal passageway together during tracheal advancement and to be retracted for separation at or near the carina. 
     
     
         31 . The ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein end faces of the distal passageways are slanted in a proximal and inward direction so that they form an inverted V-shape as the distal end of the ventilation device approaches the carina. 
     
     
         32 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said configuration exists only when the distal passageways are retained together. 
     
     
         33 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the distal passageways have end faces which face outwardly at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the stem. 
     
     
         34 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the balloon is configured so that the action of inflation positions each distal passageway toward the centre of the bronchus. 
     
     
         35 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein one distal balloon portion extends further distally than another distal balloon portion. 
     
     
         36 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the stem includes a lumen for liquid to be used during treatment. 
     
     
         37 . The lung ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the stem includes a lumen for liquid to be used during treatment; and wherein said lumen is for radiopaque material. 
     
     
         38 . The ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the proximal end and the stem of the device has a separate passageway corresponding to each distal passageway. 
     
     
         39 . The ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the distal passageways are of a material which is more flexible than the stem. 
     
     
         40 . The ventilation device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the device further comprises a proximal balloon around the stem and being proximal of the positioning balloon and a separate inflation means allowing inflation of the proximal balloon for an initial stage of dual lung inflation before inflation of the positioning balloon for one lung ventilation.